On March 23, Iran's Fars News Agency listed 11 power generation and desalination stations in the Middle East that Iran is closely monitoring, including a nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates. The report stated that most of the energy and fresh water in the Middle East comes from these power generation and desalination stations. Some American media interpreted that these power generation and desalination stations are potential targets for Iran to strike.

The 11 targets include two power generation and desalination stations and thermal power plants in Kuwait; two in the United Arab Emirates, namely the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant and the Taweelah Desalination Station; two in Saudi Arabia, namely the Ras Al-Khair Power Generation and Desalination Station and the Shuaibah Power Generation and Desalination Station; two in Jordan, namely the Aqaba Power Station and the Samra Thermal Power Station; one in Bahrain, the Dur Power Generation and Desalination Station; and two in Qatar, namely the Umm Al Houl Power Station and the Ras Laffan/Ras Girtas Power Station.

According to reports from multiple Iranian media outlets, including Tasnim News Agency, on the 23rd, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran issued a statement stating that if the United States attacks Iran's power stations, Iran will retaliate by striking Israel's power stations and the power stations in regional countries that supply electricity to U.S. military bases. The statement also condemned U.S. President Donald Trump for falsely claiming that the Revolutionary Guard Corps intended to attack freshwater facilities in the Middle East, asserting that the Revolutionary Guard Corps has never engaged in such activities to date.